The First Presidency announced on March 7, the groundbreakings for the Quito Ecuador and Lima Peru Los Olivos temples.
Elder Enrique R. Falabella, South America Northwest Area president, will preside at both ceremonies. Attendance at the groundbreaking ceremonies is by invitation only, with the general public invited to view the proceedings live from local meetinghouses.
Quito Ecuador Temple
The groundbreaking for the Quito Ecuador Temple will be Saturday, May 11.
This will be the second temple in the country, preceded by the Guayaquil Ecuador Temple, which was dedicated on Aug. 1, 1999. More than 11,700 members attended the event, which was presided over by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Speaking of the dedication, President Hinckley said, "I sense a great spirit of gratitude for this new temple in Guayaquil. The Saints have waited a very, very long time. They contributed generously toward its construction, but for one reason or another, it has been delayed until now at this late date. It is finished and completed and dedicated and they are grateful for this and indicate their gratitude."
Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple
The groundbreaking for the Lima Peru Los Olivos Temple will be held Saturday, June 8. Joined by the Lima Peru Temple, which was dedicated on Jan. 10, 1986, this is the first time two temples have been located within one international city.
The Church has two additional temples in Peru — the Trujillo Peru Temple, dedicated on June 21, 2015, by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Arequipa Peru Temple, which broke ground on March 4, 2017 and is still under construction.
